Tenbury Wells

Lucton

Kingsland

Leominster Pembridge

Kington

Lyonshall Bromyard

Hope under Dinmore

Weobley Bodenham Eardisley

3 West Cider Circuit 4 2 Bredwardine Porter’s Perfection 1/12 River Wye Hay-on 5 Dorstone TOTAL DISTANCE - 48.5 MILES -Wye The west of Herefordthis lush county is patchworked with apple orchards and studded with artisan cider producers. Lacing the rolling hills and glorious Golden Valley is a network of peaceful backroads perfect for cycling. Tackle a rewarding Peterchurch 48.5-mile double loop from Dorstone, visiting the tastiest spots to try the adult apple juice, as well as a seriesMordiford of fine country inns, historic villages and ancient monuments, and even some of Herefordshire’s most lip-smacking Vowchurch luxury ice cream. For a shorter ride, choose from either Allensmorethe north or south sections of this route. Woolhope 11 1 Dorstone Aconbury7 Rowlestone Court Farm 2 Bredwardine 8 Ty Gwyn Cider 6 3 Orgasmic Cider Company 9 Temple Bar Inn, Ewyas Harold

4 Artistraw Cider 10 Dore Abbey 10 5 Pandy Inn, Dorstone 11 Gwatkin Cider

6 Fair Oak Cider 12 Dorstone Longtown 9 Ewyas Harold 7 8

A Visit Herefordshire Cycle Route. March 2021 Ross-on-Wye West Herefordshire Cider Circuit Porter’s Perfection

1 - Dorstone 4 - Artistraw Cider 7 - Rowlestone Court Farm 10 - Dore Abbey

From the triangular village green of this winsome Returning to the A4111, continue north to Eardisley, Continuing south from Fair Oak, after 1.5miles turn The final miles are a thankfully gentle but long, settlement, scoot east along Chapel Lane, then left to taking the left-hand fork (signed for Woodseaves) at right onto an unsigned lane; after a steep descent undulating climb back along the Golden Valley – the reach the B4348. Turn right onto the main road and, the Tram Inn – first of a cluster of black-and-white and beyond a ford, you’ll meet a perpendicular road lovely, secluded vale of the River Dore – between where it bends sharp right, go straight ahead onto houses lining the Woodseaves Road. This quiet lane on a bend in front of a red-stone farmhouse. Turn fields and beneath wooded hills. Make a historic halt Pentre Lane, signed for Bredwardine and Arthur’s winds southwest to meet the Wye again at Whitney; right – and prepare for the last really challenging at the historic heart of Abbeydore: its namesake Dore Stone. Gird your loins for a sharp, steep 100m climb here, turn carefully right onto the A438 again for climb of the day. As you near the top, turn left – Abbey, accessible through the signed lychgate on – one of several really testing ascents on this lumpy 1km, turning left at the Whitney Bridge campsite onto signed to Balls Cross – then, after two-thirds of the right-hand side of the road. Founded in 1147 as loop – thankfully well-shaded for much of the haul. another sleepy backroad to Clifford. At the end of the a mile, take the right turn to Rowlestone. Quickly a Cistercian monastery, which was then dissolved in From the top, you’re rewarded with far-reaching village, just past Lower Court farm, turn left for a short, followed by an unsigned left turn. At another junction the 16th century, from the 1630s the abbey’s main views northeast across the Wye Valley. sharp climb to St Mary’s Church, where you head with a postbox, fork left – signed Pontrilas and house of worship was restored and converted into right for the equally steep downhill to Artistraw Cider. Hereford – past the intriguing 12th-century Norman what must be one of ’s most striking parish 2 - Bredwardine Here, Tom and Lydia nurture old-variety orchards and St Peter’s Church to find Rowlestone Court Farmhouse. churches. Today you can visit its soaring interior, produce a small but perfectly formed range of largely With views southwest to the Black Mountains, the admiring grotesque and beautiful medieval roof As you start your descent, if you’ve puff to spare hand-picked, wild-fermented ciders and perry. Call to café is a tempting spot to stop and indulge in one of bosses – look for the gurning Green Man – and take a short detour left to Arthur’s Stone. This hulking arrange a tasting and to browse the bottle shop. the 50-plus flavours of luxury ice cream, made fresh 17th-century stained glass. dolmen – a Neolithic burial chamber constructed daily with milk from the farm’s cattle. of huge stone slabs – has been associated with www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/discover/artistraw- www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/discover/dore-abbey legends of King Arthur since at least the 13th cidery-and-orchard www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/discover/rowlestone- century. Today it’s an atmospheric spot to take a farmhouse-ice-cream 11 - Gwatkin Cider breather and drink in the dramatic vistas. Return to 5 - Pandy Inn, Dorstone Pentre Lane and continue to Bredwardine, where 8 - Ty Gwyn Cider Continue along the B4347 as it winds north through St Andrew’s Church – dating from the 11th century Carry on south to a T-junction, turning left onto the Golden Valley, drinking in the glorious views to – houses a massive stone font and an impressive the B4348 for 500m before turning right, signed to Just half a mile beyond Rowlestone Court, look out either side – but keep an eye out for the left turn to medieval effigy. For thirsty cyclists, though, it’s the Red Dorstone. It’s an undulating four-mile stretch back on the left for Pen-Y-Lan Farm – home of Ty Gwyn Morehampton Park Farm, just after a stretch flanked Lion Hotel, with its selection of refreshing real ales to this lovely little village and the cosy Pandy Inn; Cider. Passion project of former 90s pop musician by the orchards signalling another award-winning and ciders, that might hold particular appeal. reputedly the county’s oldest, with parts dating Alex Culpin, Ty Gwyn combines modern technology family-run cider producer. Gwatkin creates a range from the 12th century, it’s a fine spot to refuel and – including a belt press that’s believed to be the only of more than 30 traditional farmhouse ciders and 3 - Orgasmic Cider Company perhaps sample some of the ciders and perries from one of its kind in the country – with very traditional perries – pick up a selection at the shop, and look producers on this route. If you’d prefer a shorter ride, methods and varieties to produce award-winning out for regular music and cider festivals. you could end here (tackle the longer southern loop ciders and perry. Check online for current opening Turning right onto the B4352 at Bredwardine, cross www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/discover/gwatkin-cider- the Wye and turn left immediately after the bridge instead). If continuing, don’t indulge too heartily – times of the on-site bar and shop. there’s a challenge around the corner… co-ltd to reach the A438 at Letton. Take care joining this www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/discover/ty-gwyn- busy route to head left (northwest) through the www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/discover/pandy-inn cider-ltd hamlet, with its attractive black-and-white Tudor- 12 - Dorstone style houses – so typical of this region – continuing Continung north from Gwatkin Cider, you’re on the straight ahead where the road becomes the A4111. 6 - Fair Oak Cider 9 - Temple Bar Inn, Ewyas Harold home straight now. At the T-junction, turn left onto Three miles after joining the main road, just after a At the southeastern edge of the village, take the third Freewheel downhill to briefly join the busy A465 at the B4348 onto Peterchurch; on entering the village, lovely orchard, turn right onto the A4112, following right after the Pandy Inn, signed to Snodhill. Continue Pontrilas for 100m before turning left, signed for Hay- take the first left – signed Urishay – to cross the the sign for the Orgasmic Cider Company. This sparky, through a four-way junction to Urishay along on-Wye. In Ewyas Harold, thirst might detour you River Dore, then right at the school. It’s a peaceful, family-run producer at Great Parton farm creates sometimes gravelly lanes with a few fierce ascents into the village centre and the ivy-clad, stone-built meandering few miles along country lanes back to single-variety ciders with the likes of Brown Snout, to test those gears. Five miles south of Snodhill, take Temple Bar Inn – a haven for local ales and ciders. Dorstone and the Pandy Inn – last-chance saloon for Foxwhelp and Balls Bitter apples, as well as Parton the left turn signed to Newton, Bacton and Pontrilas, a final draught ale or cider to salute your efforts. perry, from the fruits of its 100 acres of orchards. Call continuing largely downhill to a junction by a red www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/discover/temple-bar- to arrange an orchard tour and tasting. postbox, where you turn right into Fair Oak Farm. inn www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/discover/orgasmic- Heart of this truly traditional cider outfit is the 17th- cider-company century stone mill – probably the country’s only surviving commercial horse-drawn mill, now powered (only occasionally) by calm, good-natured Tommy. Wonderful old apple varieties create delicious ciders that change year to year, according to what’s good – look out for the tipple made with Brown’s Apple: slightly scented, sharp and clean, with a fruity aroma. A Visit Herefordshire Cycle Route. Call to arrange a visit. March 2021